Galatians ch 6

[alon]

Galatians ch 6

[This is a tough study- very difficult to understand, especially for those of us raised on incorrect Christian theology. So the format is mostly going to be a word and phrase interpretive approach. I’ll use the King James Bible as text for Galatians 6, as this is what many of us were raised on; but other versions for illustration (mostly the English Standard Version for its readability and accuracy, or the New American Standard for its relative accuracy). Again, this is my interpretation based on studies of many others, Christian and Messianic and even Jewish. But read with discernment, and by all means ask or point out problems if you see anything you are not sure of.]

Galatians 5:26 (ESV) Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

The thought process here flows uninterrupted from ch. 5 to ch. 6.

Galatians 6:1-2 (KJV) Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

"Bretherin"- members of the same spiritual family

“if a man be overtaken”- sudden temptation; literally “to take before”

Man G444 ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos Thayer Definition:
1) a human being, whether male or female
i) generically, to include all human individuals
ii) with the added notion of weakness, by which man is led into a mistake or prompted to sin
iii) with reference to the two fold nature of man, the corrupt and the truly Christian man, conformed to the nature of God
2) …
3) in the plural, people

“in a fault”- a falling; lapse or deviation. The Jewish sages recognized three different kinds of sin: cheit [iniquity], avon [transgression], and pesha [rebellious sin].

pesha- when a person recognizes his Master, and yet rebels against Him to cause anger. This is willful disobedience in opposition to God.
avon- a person does whatever he wants, not to anger G‑d, but just to enjoy forbidden things. We yield to temptation.
cheit- do wrong, commit a mistake or an error. These are sins which take a person by surprise. Accidental sin. Usually these are repented of immediately. If not, i.e. if you dwell on them, they become     "avon." If left unrepented too long they may become "pasha."

Rav Sha’ul was primarily talking about avon and to a point pesha in this passage. We are to attempt to bring the person who has fallen into sin back to repentance.

Yoma (86b), "Great is teshuvah, for it transforms deliberate sins into accidental ones." (Talmud)

Your own walk is shown in your response to another’s fall. A worldly spirit gloats over others sin; but the spirit of El Nose- God That Forgave wants us to restore the sinner. However our pride can make it all but impossible to help those who fall. This task requires humility. Our first thought must be to help the fallen person to regain his old place in fellowship and Elohim’s love.

The word translated “restore” is “katartizō”- the same term used to set a broken bone. While the experience may be painful to us, and especially to the “patient,” we must use the utmost tender, gentle and loving method of care to do no further harm as we heal fallen brothers and sisters. We also must always be cognizant that whatever we do for them will affect not only them but the whole body of believers.

Restore G2675 καταρτίζω katartizō Thayer Definition:
1) to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete
(1) to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair
(i) to complete
(2) to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust
(i) to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare
(3) ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be

Repairing involves the spirit, whether repairing the flesh or our relationship with God. Attitudes, ours and theirs affect recovery of those suffering physical illness as well as the spiritually impared. Healing, especially spiritualy, involves timing, opportunity, and prayer.

“in the spirit of meekness”- a fruit of the Spirit; we must be neither complacent, harsh, arrogant, scolding or ‘holier than thou.’

“considering thyself”- constantly monitoring ourselves for the above listed avonim before they become cheitim or even pish’ey.

The burdens we share are those extra loads, or overloads which we all experience and which we can help each other to bear.

Burden G922 βάρος baros bar'-os Probably from the same as G939 (through the notion of going down; compare G899); weight; in the New Testament only, figuratively a load, abundance, authority: - burden (-some), weight.

Jewish thought is that you can be held responsible for your neighbor’s sin. They believe in a corporate as well as an individual salvation. Christianity lost this idea, much to the determent of them, us, and Christian nations. In fact, sins (uncleanness) could accumulate in the Temple enough so that the Shekinah would depart, with disastrous results for the nation.

Ezekiel 11:21-23 (ESV) But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.” Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city.

“the law of Christ”- the law of love for our neighbor. This is .

Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV) “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Leviticus 19:18b (ESV) … you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

The catholic church (universal church) which includes both Roman Catholic and Protestant has, like the Pharisees, substituted their own traditions for the of Yeshua, who said:

Mark 7:7,13 (ESV) in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ … thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV) The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Men are men, and we all want our religion our own way.


Galatians 6:3-5 (KJV) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden.

“if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing”- if he counts himself important he is vain, and vanity has no substance.

Proverbs 21:4 (ESV) Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp [Or plowing] of the wicked, are sin.

Romans 12:3 (ESV) For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

“let every man prove his own work”- carefully scrutinize your own accomplishments to make sure they meet with approval.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved [after being tested], a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

“then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone”- our own walk is our own, between us and El Hayyay- God of My Life. It has no bearing in comparison to another outside those instances where your experiences may help them to recover. Memory of our own failures with temptation should quicken our understanding towards their plight. Do not use someone else’s fall to make you look good by comparison. Know yourself, accept yourself, and seek only to please God.

“For every man shall bear his own burden”- Some burdens must be born alone, such as your personal accountability to YHVH Hashopet- The Lord the Judge. The word here is a different one from that in vs. two:

“load” G5413 φορτίον phortion Thayer Definition: 1) a burden, load … 2) metaphorically 2a) of burdensome rites 2b) of the obligations Christ lays upon his followers, and styles a “burden” by way of the contrast to the precepts of the Pharisees, the observance of which was most oppressive 2c) faults of the conscience which oppress the soul

We all must bear our own burden of guilt for those times we fail in our work or our walk.


Galatians 6:6 (KJV) Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

“Let him that is taught in the word communicate”- the one being taught is to share, fellowship, and partner with financially.

1 Timothy 5:17-19 (ESV) Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Elders and teachers are to be treated with special dignity and respect.

“in all good things”- we are expected to support these gifted teachers.

1 Corinthians 9:10-11 (ESV) Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?


Galatians 6:7-10 (KJV) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Our life in Yeshua is presented in agricultural terms. This life is a time of sewing, and every moment we are sewing seeds which will inevitably come to fruition. When you sew to the flesh you will reap a tragic harvest. And whatever we sow, good or bad, the harvest is always more than the sowing.

Matthew 13:8,23 (ESV) Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. … As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

“God is not mocked”- El Elyon will not be mocked, ridiculed, treated contemptuously, or ignored. Deception is all too easy for we as believers. Never forget that the relentless law of sowing and reaping applies to us all; and the price of mocking Elohim is not to be taken lightly. Here I can attest from experience, as my health issues are a direct result of peshat; intentional sins and mocking El Hayyay- the God of My Life. The same is true of my unsaved children.

James 1:14-16 (ESV) But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (ESV) For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.

“let us not be weary in well doing”- do not become weary or discouraged in our works of faith. The word “weary” is “ekkakeō,” and is used of retreat in battle; to give up the fight.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV) As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

“let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”- our first responsibility is to other Meshiachim. We should not waste our resources on religious organizations which do not teach . And our own synagogues needs should be met and our people taken care of before any others.

Romans 12:13 (ESV) Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

1 John 3:17 (ESV) But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Yes, like the Good Samaritan we also help those in distress. But we take care of our own. This comes from the indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh, and is a love which is manifest for each other that only Elohim Ozer Li- God My Helper can make manifest within us.

John 13:34-35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Not a new command, Leviticus 19:18b (ESV) "…, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." This was a renewed commandment with a more perfect example; His own life. This is one of the things the sages said haMoshiach would do- explain more perfectly.

[alon]

Galatians 6:11 (KJV) Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

Rav Sha’ul usually dictated his letters; however he wrote this one himself as a token of his sacrificial love for these Galatians. He was nearly blind by this time, and this is a long epistle compared to the rest. This entire epistle is highly emotionally charged. Rav Sha’ul saw this new idea, legalism, to be one of the most harmful, destructive and evil ideas ever to be devised by ha’satan himself. And he was correct. In both Judaism today and especially in Christianity we see types of legalism, substituting forms of religion, rituals, and traditions and commandments of men for the of Yeshua; that same He gave Moshe at Sinai. And anyone following any law and depending on that for salvation is trying to earn it themselves. This has never been acceptable to Elohim.

justification n reasonable grounds for complaint, defence, etc
the act of justifying; proof, vindication, or exculpation
Theology- the act of justifying; the process of being justified or the condition of having been justified; also called: justification by faith, Protestant theol the doctrine that God vindicates only those who repent and believe in Jesus

While that last may be true, Ya’akov (James) said (presented graphically so as to be better understood):

James 2:20-26 (ESV)
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith [trust] apart from works is useless?
    21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
        22 You see that faith [trust] was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
            23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
        24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith [trust] alone.
    25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith [trust] apart from works is dead.

Avraham first trusted Elohim, then his works showed it. Rachav only trusted that El Elohe Yisro’el was YHVH Uzzi- The Lord My Strength. She knew nothing else of Him, except that He was mightier in battle than the gods she was raised believing in. Yet that trust saved her, and it produced works; works which endangered her and her family if discovered. But she “believed God, and it was counted to [her] as righteousness.” We cannot earn our salvation, however if we are truly saved our salvation will produce works, and those to benefit the kingdom:

Matthew 5:16 (ESV) In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Salvation is a free gift of Elohim, however we will one day be judged by what we give back.

Revelation 20:12 (ESV) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

So the Christian doctrine of justification being “an instantaneous act of God in which He forgives our sins and declares us righteous” (Bible Doctrine, Grudem) is incorrect. That is salvation. Justification is those things we’ve done which prove our salvation and act of repentance were genuine. They did not save us, but were the proof of that salvation.


Galatians 6:12-13 (KJV) As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh”- those who make a pretentious display of their religion to win the favor of men. These false teachers wanted praise from the world. They avoided the sufferings that too often go with proclaiming the Cross and perverted the gospel, placing themselves and others under the doctrine of legalism. The true believer will glory in the Cross, even if it means the world’s enmity.

“they constrain you to be circumcised”- they try to compel you to legalism, saying circumcision is necessary for salvation. It is necessary as an act of obedience if you want the blessings of keeping the mitzvoth. However salvation has always been and still is by grace through faith.

Isaiah 55:7 (ESV) let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

“lest they should suffer persecution”- these legalists had no concern for the Galatians or for HaShem. They were concerned only for their own reputations and wellbeing.

“for the cross of Christ”- for the besorah of Yeshua; for the preaching of the gospel.

“they themselves who are circumcised”- those submitting to legalism; trying to earn their own salvation. These people were insincere, inconsistent, and pretending zealotry for . But they expected circumcision to make up for their not observing . They wanted to escape the persecution that inevitably comes to all believers.

“that they may glory in your flesh”- they wanted to boast over their conversion of the Galatians; to get credit for convincing these new believers to adopt legalistic doctrines; for proselytizing the synagogue at Galatia.


Galatians 6:14-15 (KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

This is the third time Rav Sha’ul mentions the Cross. What was shameful to the legalists was the object of glory to Rav Sha’ul.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Cross separates the believer from the world by his death to sin position in Yeshua.

Galatians 1:4 (ESV) who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Galatians 2:20 (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Sha’ul was cut off from the world; indifferent to praise or blame. He served Yeshua HaMoshiach alone. His suffering is evidence of his sincerity in preaching the good news. Rav Sha’ul gloried in the scars his suffering for the Cross had left. If the Judaizers gloried in their circumcision, how much moreso did he in his scars suffered for the besorah of Yeshua.

James 5:7-11 (ESV) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

“For in Christ Jesus”- in living union, or in salvation.

“neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature”- Rav Sha’ul is obviously speaking of salvation in this verse. Since he never taught against the Christian interpretation of this, that circumcision and the law are done away with, cannot be correct. He is saying circumcision and observance to are not prerequisite to being saved, as the legalists were teaching.

1 John 5:12 (ESV) Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

It really is just that simple. Not following , the instructions of God abrogates your reward, not your salvation. However the extent to which you adhere to those instructions is a solid indicator of a person’s status in his walk.

James 2:26 (ESV) For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.


Galatians 6:16-18 (KJV) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [shalom] be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

It doesn’t sound like it when read in English to those raised in pagan theologies, but these are the climactic verses of Sha’ul’s entire epistle to the Galatians. Here he nicely sums up the entire message. When we are recreated in the likeness of HaMoshiach, Yeshua, and as long as we walk in , we become part of a family of kindred spirits united beneath the Nissi, or banner of YHVH Mekaddischem- The Lord That Sanctifies You. Such is “the Israel of God” in the sense of brotherhood. From God Fearers and Gerim Toshav, to  those believers born Jewish, we all are united in fellowship with each other and with YHVH Elohe Yeshuathi- Lord God of Salvation.

Galatians 3:7 (ESV) Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.

Romans 4:9-12 (ESV)  Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness.  How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.  He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well,  and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

This phrase “the Israel of God” is unique in the B’rith Chadashah. Misinterpreted by Christianity to mean they now, not the Jews, are God’s people; they have taken one phrase and twisted it to mean something taught nowhere in scripture. This is another doctrine of man in which Christianity legalistically substitutes their own ideas for the teachings of Adonai.

“as many as walk according to this rule”- men need a standard, instructions by which to live. That standard is the of Elohe Yeshuathi (Tshauthi)- God of My Salvation.

“From henceforth let no man trouble me”- the authority of Rav Sha’ul had been questioned and false allegations laid against him. Furthermore, and more important to Sha’ul, some serious false teachings were being accepted by many in Galatia. He has successfully answered all these and is saying with the authority of a Sheliach Tzibur (an apostle) that the matter is now laid to rest. He doesn’t want to hear any more about it. He also bears the authority of one proven in faithful service, “for I bear in my body the marks” as one who has suffered much and remained faithful.

“Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”- he still calls them brethren, but he also wishes them to be in the grace of Yeshua, not bound up in legalism. Keeping is a joy, not a set of onerous regulations. We do so to please El Shimchat Gili- God My Exceeding Joy.

“grace” G5485 χάρις charis Thayer Definition:
1) grace
i) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
i) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3) what is due to grace
i) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
ii) the token or proof of grace, benefit
(a) a gift of grace
(b) benefit, bounty
4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

This word, always translated as “grace” in the New Testament is found in 79 verses in the Septuagent (Greek) translation of the Old Testament. Yet there it is almost always translated as favor. Altough many times "favor" fits better, this is overall a blatant ploy to separate the grace of Elohim to those of the “New Testament Age.” So we can see that those who were supposedly “under the law” before Yeshua were actually under the same grace from the same Elohim. Following does not place us under the “curse of the law.” That is the unsaved state of those willfully opposing El HaKabodh- The God of Glory.

Genesis 6:8 (NASB) But Noah found favor before the LORD God. (5484 charin)

Exodus 33:12 (NASB) And Moses said to the LORD, Behold, you say to me, Lead this people! But you manifested not to me whom you shall send along with me. But you said to me, I know you above all, and you have favor with me. (5484 charin)

2 Samuel 15:25 (NASB)  And the king said to Zadok, Return the ark of God unto the city! If I should find favor in the eyes of the LORD, and he returns me, then he shall show it to me, and its beauty. (5484 charin)

Psalm 84:11 (NASB) For the LORD loves mercy and truth. God shall give favor and glory. The LORD will not deprive good things to the ones going in innocence. (5484 charin)

Proverbs 1:9 (NASB) for you shall receive a crown of favors for your head, and a collar of gold around your neck. (5484 charitwn)

Zechariah 12:10 (NASB) And I will pour out upon the house of David, and upon the ones dwelling Jerusalem a spirit of favor and compassion. And they shall look to me, because they treated me despitefully; and they shall beat over him with a beating of the breast, as over a beloved one; and they shall grieve with grief as over the first-born. (5484 charitos)
So it would not be a great stretch to substitute for “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” as meaning “the of Yeshua HaMoshiach” be with you. And never said you could earn salvation yourself by any means.

Galatians 6:16 (CJB) And as many as order their lives by this rule, shalom upon them [us] and mercy, and upon the Isra’el of God!

The way this verse is ordered is interesting. It alludes to the Sh’moneh Esre, or the Amidah- the prayer said by observant Jews centuries before Yeshua up to this day. Sim Shalom [Grant Peace] is the concluding section of that prayer. The Jewish readers of this epistle, including the Judaizers, would have immediately recognized this reference to the Amidah. So probably would the God Fearers, those Gentiles who were still learning in synagogue, and so would have heard this prayer many times themselves. Sim Shalom starts out “Grant peace [shalom], welfare, blessing, grace, loving kindness and mercy to us and to all Israel Your people.”

So with only a few words Rav Sha’ul takes the reader directly to his meaning and context, the Amidah. In the time of Sha’ul, the term “Israel” was only used by those who knew the Jewish writings; ie Jews and God Fearers. Greek speakers used the term “Ioudaioi” [Judeans]. Jews reserved “Yisro’el” for themselves as the people of YHVH El Elyon- The Lord, the Most High God.

In Romans Rav Sha’ul set’s apart chapters 9-11 entirely to the subject of Yisro’el. In these chapters there are eleven occurrences of the word “Israel.” Not even once does the term refer to ‘the church;’ always it means the Jewish people.

The Judaizers appealed to the pride of those Gentiles coming into the faith, convincing them that circumcision made them just like those born Jewish. Rav Sha’ul is saying that while salvation may be the same, and the law may apply to all the same, and the Gentile believers may be in a sense grafted onto Yisro’el; however the Jews are still uniquely God’s people. An operation on the flesh does not change your DNA or your experiences growing up a pagan. We are grafted on and feeding, learning from the Jewish rootstalk; becoming more and more like the Jews. And we are His; but they were born as His people.

[So my concluding thoughts on this study are that we are and should be becoming more Jewish in our thought processes, our understanding, our worship and our service to Elohim. However I am a convert, a proselyte to Messianic Judaism. One born Jewish who accepts Yeshua is not a convert, he (she) is Jewish. They have more to teach me than I do them. But for both of us, the joy is in the journey. Shalom.]

Dan C

References: Notes and indexes from several Bibles; W Wiersbe; F Meyer; M Unger; Falwell, Hindson, Kroll; D Stern; P Auerbach; M Ganti; Grudem; Talmud; Rav S; my father, and many, many others.